2016 Alexandra Stakes Tips & Odds Update

One of three Group races on the Moonee Valley Thursday night program this evening is the Alexandra Stakes 2016 for the three-year-old fillies, betting tips for the mile clash detailed below.

Jacqui’s Joy is one of the early favourites in 2016 Alexandra Stakes betting at Moonee Valley on Thursday night. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Running as Moonee Valley Race 4 on William Reid Stakes Night at 8:15pm (AEDT), this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Art Series Hotel Group Alexandra Stakes (1600m) features a final field of 12 runners.

Sitting top of the Alexandra Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are $5 co-favourites Jacqui’s Joy and Thames Court drawn at opposite ends of the field in barriers two and 11 respectively.

Mornington-trained Real Saga filly Jacqui’s Joy is untested at the track but won three on the trot in Melbourne during the summer before being outclassed from a wide gate to run seventh in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) a fortnight back at Flemington.

Thames Court has the double digit draw to overcome tonight, but David Brideoake’s nicely-bred daughter of Commands caught the eye winning at Moonee Valley on March 14 by two lengths over 1200m ahead of her step up to a mile.

She’s tipped to enjoy the extra metres having run third at the track and distance in the tougher Group 2 Moonee Valley Classic (1600m) last Cox Plate Day.

It’s a wide open Alexandra Stakes betting market this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnivalwith a further three runners under $10 for the win including the market mover Sweet Redemption ($8 into $5.50).

One of Sydney’s premier trainers Gai Waterhouse brings this interstate raider to Melbourne tonight, the Snitzel filly coming off a Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) second at Launceston from February 21.

Sweet Redemption has been freshened-up since and is a former winner over the distance, plus is drawn a treat in barrier four for jockey Michael Walker.

So can the best three in betting get the job done tonight or is there value tipping a longer priced hope to score an upset Alexandra Stakes result such as Sebring filly Lazumba ($6.50) shooting for her third win on the trot or Kewney Stakes fourth placegetter last time out Labdien ($6.50) for Sydney horseman Darren Weir?

Thames Court is out wide but has the class and Moonee Valley form to overcome the alley at the tight track with ace hoop Hugh Bowman jumping aboard. She’s had two runs here for a win and a third, the third being in a Group 2 on Cox Plate Day so she has class. She won her first-up over 1200m by an easy two lengths, so stepping up in distance second-up will suit as she’s fit and ready to fire again.

The Weir stable is flying and could be in for an upset win in this from Stryker filly who won at Moonee Valley two back with 59.5kg, the set weights plus penalties tonight seeing her drop to 55kg with James McDonald down for the ride. She raced in Group 2 company last time out at Flemington over 1400m and was far from disgraced crossing fourth as a 31/1 outsider to Badawiya in the Kewney Stakes, good form to follow into this.

Steve Richards’ Sebring filly has won both her starts this time in and is the fit filly in the mix. Third-up she should be peaking and has earned a shot at a tougher field after her opening prep wins were in non-black type company. She was dead last in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day in the spring, but should be better this time in and there’s a sense of timing here as she gets the gun run from barrier three with Steven King in the saddle.

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